Apparatus and system for dispensing hair preparations



l/ ,1967 L. H. KNIBB 3,322,349

7 v APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING HAIR PREPA RATIONS- Filed Oct. 19, 1.964

3 sheets-sheet 1 g, INVENTCR," LEROY H'. KN-IBB g, I A A 0 v H. KNIBB 3,322,349 APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING HAIR PREPARATIONS May 30, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1964 FIG 4 7488876? INVENTOR:

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May 30, 1967 Filed Oct. 19, 1964 L. H. KNIBB APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING HAIR PREPARATIONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVEN TOR.

AT'T' Y United States Patent 3,322,349 APPARATUSAND SYSTEM FOR DISPENSING HAIR PREPARATIONS Leroy H. Knibb, 181 E. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, II]. 60611 Filed Oct. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 404,664 11 Claims. (Cl. 239-135) The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing hair preparations, such as liquid shampoo, hair spray, hair tonic and the like, the apparatus being embodied in a novel system which is adapted for use in commercial beauty parlor establishments, barber shops, and the like whereby the various preparations are made available to individual operators at different working or operating stations where similar treatment is offered to customers and within different zones of operation where the character of the treatment varies for example, in the herein illustrated and described form of the invention, the layout or floor plan of a typical beauty parlor has been somewhat schematically shown, the plan including a shampoo-applying zone having individual operating stations wherein customers may avail themselves of the usual hair-washing operations over lavatory bowls including the application to the scalp of a selected type of liquid shampoo, together with such preliminary and final accompanying operations as may be desired, including initial wetting of the hair, massaging of the scalp, rinsing of the hair and scalp, and removal of excess moisture by means of towels or the like. The plan further includes a hair-setting zone having individual operating stations where the customers may avail themselves of the necessary operations incident to setting of the hair, including the initial application of curlers, an initial application of hair spray preparatory to the hair-drying operation at a drying zone, and a final application of a selected type of hair spray after the hair has been dried and the curlers removed.

Heretofore, in connection with a lavatory bowl in a professional establishment of the type outlined above, the bowl is invariably provided with hot and cold water taps for hair-Wetting and rinsing purposes, and usually the preparation which is to be applied to the hair of a customer is kept on a remote shelf in an individual bottle having a shaker top so that it is necessary to transport the bottle to the scene of a shampooing operation. After the required quantity of the preparation (shampoo liquid) has been applied to the hair of the customer, the bottle is temporarily placed on the ledge region of the lavatory bowl while the actual shampoo message is performed, the bottle thus being available for repeated applications of its contents if desired. Ordinarily, the bottle is not restored to its position on the shelf until the final rinse and the preliminary drying operation with a towel have been completed. Inasmuch as a liquid shampoo preparation is invariably of a s-aponaceous nature, it is slippery to the touch and a bottle thus temporarily positioned on the ledge reg-ion of a lavatory bowl is frequently dropped during handling or is knocked over inadvertently during normal shampooing operations with the resultant danger of bottle fracture and loss of the contents. To obviate this difliculty, some establishments employ a lavatory bowl having a built-in shampoo pump, this consisting of a conventional faucet-type lift or suction pump, or in some instances, a force pump by means of which the shampoo liquid, which is so stored in quantity beneath the lavatory bowl, is raised above the level of the bowl where it may be deposited into the hand of the operator for application to the hair or applied directly to the hair. Such a lift or force pump employs a depressible plunger which is permanently installed in an opening in the bowl ledge 3,322,349 Patented May 30, 1967 and cannot be removed therefrom during normal operation thereof so that much liquid is lost in transferring the shampoo preparation by hand from the pump discharge to the hair. Additionally, due to the permanency of the installation, the pump fittings or parts are difficult to clean and are thus subject to accumulation of dried shampoo preparation. Finally, where a force pump is concerned, drying out of the liquid in the pump chamber on around the usual liquid ports during a period of prolonged inactivity may cause the pump plunger to freeze in its surrounding cylinder thus rendering the pump inoperative until it has been taken apart and cleaned.

Insofar as the shampooing phase of the present invention is concerned, the above-identified difiiculties are obviated and there is provided a novel shampoo-dispensing arrangement wherein pressurized sources of different types of shampoo liquids are maintained at a supply station remote from the operating stations at the shampooapplying zone and are conducted to the opera-ting stations through manifold and branch fluid lines leading from the supply station to the operating stations. At each operating station, there is provided at least one portable dispensing head which norm-ally rests or seats by gravity within a specific fitting for it on the associated lavatory bowl and which thus remains accessible at all times for limited transportation from a seated position within the fitting and on the bowl to the head of the customer, the dispensing head being adapted, immediately after its use, for return to its normally seated position where it may remain during the shampoo massage operation or during rinsing operations and in readiness for a subsequent use.

The shampoo-dispensing head is in the form of a novel assembly of parts including a charge container which is adapted to be connected to one of the branch lines leading through the manifold line to the source of shampoo liquid under pressure and has associate-d therewith a depressible plunger which, each time it is depressed, serves to cause ejection of a predetermined and measured quantity of the liquid shampoo in the form of a jet stream. Each lavatory bowl at its respective operating station is equipped with plural identical dispensing heads and seat fittings therefor, there being one dispensing head for each type of available liquid shampoo preparation. Each seat fitting on or adjacent to the lavatory bowl is equipped with a heating coil which surrounds the liquid shampoo dispensing head when the latter is in position within associated fitting, and thus, the measured charges of the liquid shampoo which are dispensed from'the charge container are applied in a heated or warmed condition to the head hair of the customer.

Insofar as the hair spray-applying phase of the present invention is concerned, the pressurizing means which is located at the remote supply station and is employed for pressuring the shampoo liquid for delivery to the shampooapplying zone, is also employed for delivering compressed air to the various operating stations in the hair-setting zone through manifold and branch linesleading to such stations. At each of these stations, there are available to the operator a number of containers within which are disposed various types of liquid hair spray. Also, at each station, there is provided a portable atomizing spray head to which the various containers may selectively be operatively applied and each spray head includes a novel atomizing mechanism by means of which a maximum quantity of liquid hair spray may be atomized utilizing a minimum amount of atomizing air. By the provision of such a spray head, a full or generous quantity of hair spray may be deposited on the hair without appreciably disturbing the prearranged position or setting of the hair and there will be no discomfort to the customer due to violent air disturbance in the vicinity of the face or head.

The provision of a novel system and apparatus for dis- 3 pensing hair preparations such as has briefly been outlined above being among the principal objects of the present invention, numerous other objects and advantages, not at this time enumerated, will readily suggest themselves as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical beauty parlor installation embodying the novel apparatus and system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, somewhat schematic in its representation, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating the manner in which a single source of compressed air is employed for both liquid shampoo and hair spray delivery at respective operating stations;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the equipment at one of the operating stations in the shampooapplying zone;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially centrally and vertically through a shampoo-dispensing head and seat fitting therefor, the former resting by gravity upon the latter in assembled relationship;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a piston employed in connection with the shampoo-dispensing head of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a reduced side elevational view of an atomizing spray head which is employed in connection with and forms part of the present invention and serves under control of the operator to direct hair spray in atomized form into the customers hair;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially centrally through the atomizing spray head of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, the combined dispensing apparatus and system of the present invention is shown as being operatively embodied in a commercial beauty parlor establishment. The latter is illustrated as being in the form of an enclosure embodying a floor 10, a rear wall 12 and side walls 14 and 16. An area along the side wall 14 establishes a shampoo-applying zone Z1 having individual operating stations S1 disposed therealong, while a similar area along the side wall 16 establishes a hair-setting zone Z2 having individual operating stations S2 disposed therealong. A limited area along the rear Wall 12 establishes a supply station SS at which there is disposed certain equipment by means of which liquid Shampoo may be supplied to the individual operating stations S1 and compressed air may be supplied to the individual operating stations S2 in a manner and for a purpose that will be made clear presently. Two complete operating stations S1 have been shown in the zone Z1, while only one complete operation S2 has been shown in the zone Z2. However, it will be understood that, depending upon the size and customer capacity of the beauty parlor establishment, any number of such stations S1 and 52 may be employed if desired.

Still referring to FIG. 1, each operating station S1 in the shampoo-applying zone Z1 is provided with a lavatory bowl 20 of conventional design. The bowl 2% is suitably supported upon the wall 14 and is provided with the usual hot and cold water tap or faucet controls 22 and 24 and an extensible spray head 26 for rinse water. The bowl portion proper 28 of the bowl 20 is provided with the usual outwardly and downwardly rolled rim ledge 30 and the forward central region of such ledge is formed with a trough-like depression 32 to accommodate the neck portion of a customer, illustrated at C, when the head is centered above the bowl portion for shampooing operations, for example, the massaging or rinsing operation.

According to the system of the present invention, the liquid shampoo which is at the disposal of an operator at 4 any one of the operating stations S1 is supplied from a series of hermetically-sealed containers 34 at the supplv station SS, and is made available to the operator, illustrated at O, by manipulation of a corresponding number of shampoo-dispensing heads 40 (see in particular FIGS. 2 and 4) which are loosely and removably received in respective, vertically extending, cylindrical seat fittings 42. The seat fittings 42 are in the form of thin walled, openended, tubular members and are mounted in a supporting bracket 44 which is removably secured to the ledge 30 of the bowl 20. Ordinarily, three diiferent types of liquid shampoo are available for shampoo operations in a beauty parlor establishment, these being predicated upon the existence of an oily scalp, a normal scalp and a dry scalp. Accordingly, three of the dispensing heads 40 have been illustrated in associated relation with the bowl 20 for selective use by the operator. Similarly, supplies of the three different types of liquid shampoo are respectively maintained in the containers 34 and are made available, in a manner that will be described presently, to the three heads 40 through three individual manifold conduits 46 and associated flexible branch conduits 48.

Each seat fitting 42 is surrounded by an electric heating element 50 (see FIG. 4) of open-ended tubular construction, provision being made for fixedly securing the element in place so that it becomes a permanent and functional part of its associated seat fitting. Means are provided whereby the seat fittings 42, together with their associated heating elements 50, may be projected through openings, such as the openings 52, in the horizontal top part of the supporting bracket 44 for permanent mounting of these fittings in position alongside the bowl 20, or if desired, the supporting bracket may be omitted and the openings 52 may be provided directly in the rim ledge of the bowl 20, all in a manner that will be made clear presently.

The three dispensing heads 40 for use at each bowl 20 are identical in construction and, therefore, a description of one of them will suffice for them all. Each head is comprised of two principal parts, namely, a cylindrical charge container 60 (see FIG. 4) and a valve assembly 62. The charge container is in the form of a thin-walled, non-corrosive, cylindrical body having an externally-threaded upper rim region 64. The lower end of the charge container is provided with a depending push-in type nipple 66 for reception thereover of one end of one of the flexible branch conduits 43. The capacity of the charge container is several times greater than the maximum quantity of liquid shampoo which normally is applied to the head of a customer during any given series of applications so that the amount of heated liquid shampoo contained therein will be adequate for the entire needs of such customer during her treatment at the station S1.

The valve assembly 62 of each head involves in its general organization a vertically extending, tubular valve body 70, the upper end of which is closed by a threaded closure cap 72. From the central portion of the valve body there projects laterally a nozzle-supporting spout 74 having an internal, longitudinally extending passage 76 which terminates at its inner end in a frusto-conical valve seat '78. A horizontally extending discharge nozzle 80 at its outer end and a reduced threaded stem 84 at its inner end is threadedly received in the forward open end of the spout 74. The rear or inner end extremity of the stem 84 is formed with a frusto-conical valve head 86 having formed therein a radial passage 88 in communication with an axial bore 90 in the nozzle 80. An O-ring 91 surrounds the stem 84 and establishes a seal around the mating screw threads on the spout 74 and the stem of the nozzle 80. As will be described in detail subsequently, the extent of threaded engagement between the nozzle 80' and its spout 74 determines the rate of flow of liquid shampoo through the spout and nozzle for ejection from the latter.

The tubular valve body 70 of the valve assembly 62 is provided at its lower end with an annular downwardly projecting seating flange 92 and has its lower portion projecting downwardly through an opening in the top wall of a cup-shaped closure cap 94 which is threadedly received on the threaded rim reigon 64 of the charge container 60. An annular outwardly extending seating flange 96 on the valve body 70 at a location directly over the upper end of the flange 92 cooperates with a nut 98 on the flange in maintaining the valve body assembled upon the closure cap 94. An O-ring 100 is compressed between the upper rim of the charge container 60 and the marginal portion of the top wall of the closure cap 94 and effects a seal at the top of the charge container.

The closure cap 72 for the upper end of the valve body 70 constitutes a top wall for the tubular valve body and is provided with a central opening 102 through which there projects a vertically extending manipulating plunger 104. The lower end of such plunger normally rests upon the upper end of an upstanding valve stem 106 which is vertically slidable in a valve cage 108 and embodies at its lower end a valve element 110. The latter is designed for cooperation with a seat 112 which is formed on the lower end of the cage 108. The cage 108 is threadedly received in a vertically extending sleeve 113 which is firmly pressed into the lower end of the valve body 70. A spiral compress'ion spring 114 normally maintains the valve element 110 in its closed position upon'the seat 112. From the above description, it will be seen that upon depression of the manipulating plunger'104, the valve stem 106 will become depressed, thus moving the valve element 110 downwards from its seat 112 so that liquid shampoo under pressure in the charge container 60 will flow upwardly through the cage 108, the valve body 70, the passage 76, the radial passage 88 in the valve head 86, and the bore 90 in the.

discharge nozzle 80 and become discharged from the dispensing head 40. In order that there will be discharged only a measured or predetermined amount of liquid shampoo for each depression of the plunger 104, a floating piston 120 (see FIGS. 4 and S) is provided. Such piston is slidable vertically within the charge container 60 in the upper regions thereof for limited movement between a lowered position wherein it seatsupon a vertically adjustable pedestal or seat 122, and an upper position wherein it seats against the O-ring 100. The piston 120 is ofcup-shape design and includes a circular bottom wall 124 and an upstanding cylindrical side wall 126. An annular, upstanding, spring-centering boss 127 on the bot tom wall 124 receives thereover the lower small base of an inverted frusto-conical helical compression spring 128, and the upper large base of the spring is centered within the O-ring 100 and bears against the top wall of the closure cap 94. The spring 128 serves yieldingly to maintain the piston 124 in its seated lowered position on the pedestal 122.

The pedestal 122 includes a vertically-disposed, downwardly extending, elongated threaded stem 130 which is threadedly received as at 132 in a fixed pedestal support 134 in the lower region of the interior of the charge container 60. The elevation of the pedestal 122 within the charge container 60 determines the effective stroke of the piston 120. The height of the pedestal may be adjusted by removing the closure cap 94, the spring 128, and the piston 120 and then turning the pedestal in one direction or the other in order to raise or lower it.

As previously stated, each seat fitting 42 is in the form of a thin-walled, open-ended tubular member and the upper rim region of this member is provided with a relatively thick, upwardly tapered seating flange 136. The lower rim region of the seat fitting 42 is externally threaded as at 138 for threaded reception thereover of a clamping nut 140 by means of which the associated heating element 50 is retained in its telescopic position on the fitting and the entire assembly is clamped in position either on the supporting bracket 44 or on rim ledge 30 of the bowl 20, as the case may be. The seating, flange 136 affords a downwardly facing shoulder beneath which there 6 is disposed an annular gasket 142 which may be formed of fiber or other suitable heat-insulating and sealing material and is of right angle cross section. The gasket 142 fits within the associated opening 52 and not only seals the upper end of the seat fitting 42 within this opening against the passage of liquid drippings, but also thermally insulates the seat fitting from the supporting bracket 44 or the rim flange 30, as the case may be and, consequently, from the bowl, so that there will be no heat losses by conduction to the bowl. A second annular insulating and sealing gasket 144 underlies the rim region of the opening 52 and receives the upward thrust of the upper open rim of the heating element when the latter is telescopically received over the seat fitting 42 in a manner that will be 7 made clear presently. The gasket 144 is similar to the gasket 142 but is reversely positioned or arranged. A third gasket 146 around the lower end of the seat fitting 42 similarly receives the thrust of the lower open rim of the heating element 50 when the clamping nut 140 is tightened against the heating element.

The heating element 50 comprises an inner cylindrical metal tube section 148 which is of open-ended design and to which there is vulcanized or otherwise secured an outer sheath 150' of a moldable, heat-resistant elastomeric or other suitable material. A coil 152 of electric resistance heating Wire is embedded. in the sheath 150, such coil being in the form of a spiraland having terminal ends 154 which are electrically connected to a dual-lead conductor 156. The assembly which comprises the heating element 50 is telescopically received over the seat fitting 42 in close fitting relationship and is centered between the clamping nut. and the gasket'144, as previously described.

The three heating elements 50 of the three seat fittings 42 may be electrically connected in parallel and energized through a common cord arrangement 158 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) extending from a wall socket or outlet 160 in the vicinity of one of the bowls 20.

The supporting bracket 44 is of partial box-like design and comprises a top wall 162 (see FIGS. 3and 4) and depending side walls 164, 166, 168 and 170, the bottom of the bracket being open. The side wall 170'is of short height and has formed in its lower portion a vertical slot 172. The supporting bracket 44 is connected to the bowl 20 by a U-sha-ped clamp 174 comprising an outer leg 176, an inner leg 178, and a connecting bight portion 180. The outer leg 178 is providedwith a threaded hole 182 within which there is received a horizontally disposed clamping bolt 184. The clamp 174 is adapted to straddle the rolled edge of the rim ledge 30 of the bowl 20 in such a manner that when the clamping bolt 184 is tightened, the inner leg 178 is drawn tightly against the edge and the clamp 174 is thus secured to the bowl 20. The slot 172 is adapted to be hooked over the "bolt 184 and a lock washer 186 which is interposed between the head of the bolt and the side Wall 170 of'the supporting bracket 44 takes up any lost motion that otherwise would be present so that the supporting bracket is fixedly clamped to the bowl 20. By reason of the slot 172, the supporting bracket 44 may be vertically adjusted with respect to the bowl 20.

In the operation of the dispensing head 40, the head normally rests in telescopic fashion Within the seat fitting 42'with the closure cap 94 resting by gravity upon the upwardly tapered seating flange 136 as shown in FIG. 4. In this position of the dispensing head 40, the charge container 60 is subject to heat from the heating element 50 so that the liquid shampoo within the charge container will be brought to a normal range of application temperatures. When it is desired to apply the liquid shampoo to the hair or scalp of a customer, such as the customer C as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,v the operator 0 will manually grasp the dispensing head 40 and lift the same from its associated seat fitting 42. Grasping the charge container 60 between the four fingers and palm of the hand, the operator may, by utlizing the thumb, apply downward pressure to the plunger 104, thus unseating the valve element 110 so as to allow the liquid shampoo under pressure in the upper region of the charge container above the piston 120 to flow upwardly through the valve cage 108 and into the valve body 70', and from thence, outwardly of the head through the spout 74 and the discharge nozzle 80. The motivating force for such outward flow of liquid is established by reason of the drop in internal liquid pressure above the piston when the valve element 110 moves from its seat 112, the higher pressure below the piston 120 forcing the piston upwardly to expel the liquid thereabove. The quantity of liquid expelled from the heat is a function of the linear upward displacement of the piston and such displacement is controlled by the setting of the pedestal 122, as previously described. When the floating piston 120 reaches the end of its up stroke, it operates automatically to effect closing of the valve element 110' and thus stops further flow of the liquid shampoo from the dispensing head 40'. As soon as the valve element 110 closes, the piston 120 is returned to its lower position by the action of the spiral spring 128. As shown in FIG. 4, the piston isof such diameter that there is clearance between it and the side wall of the charge container.

The operator will maintain the plunger 104 depressed for a sufficient length of time to permit the entire measured charge of the liquid shampoo to be ejected and when the piston 120 engages the O-ring 100, the flow of shampoo will cease, as hereinbefore described, and the operator may then release the plunger 104 which will be restored to its raised position under the influence of the spring 114. At this time, the piston 120 will be caused to descend to its original seated position on the pedestal 122 under the influence of the spring 128. Two small bleeder notches 190 are provided in the upper rim of the piston side wall 126 to break any hydrostatic seal which may exist between the piston 120 and O-ring 100 so that the spring 128 may be efiective to force the piston downwardly within the charge container 60. The operation may be repeated each time the operator applies a measured charge of liquid shampoo to the hair or scalp of the customer C.

After the particular or selected dispensing head 40 has served its purpose, it may be replaced in its associated seat fitting 42 and when so replaced, the closure cap 94 will rest upon the seating flange 136 while the charge container will project downwardly into the seat fitting a suflicient distance so that it will be encircled by the heating element 50. Thus, during any period of inactivity when the dispensing head is not in use, the liquid contents of the charge container will assimilate heat from the heating element. Assimilation of such heat is facilitated by the fact that the metal from which the charge container is formed possesses high heat-conducting characteristics, while the wall of the charge container is relatively thin.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7, the hair-setting zone 7 Z2 of the system may be equipped with the usual shelf 200, mirror 202, storage drawers 204 and such other accoutrements as may be desired. In this zone, various brands or types of liquid hair spray may be stored in containers 206 for selection by a customer, such as the customer C2 for application by an operator 02 at one of the operating stations S2, utlizing a novel hair spray atomizing and dispensing head 210 which constitutes an important feature of the present invention. A manifold conduit 212 for compressed air extends through the hair spray zone Z2 and is adapted to be connected by flexible branch conduits 214 to such atomizing heads 210' as are employed at the stations S2 in this zone.

Each atomizing head 210 is adapted for selective reception and cooperation therewith of the various containers 206-. The details of one of the atomizing heads 210 are best illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 wherein one of the heads is shown as being operatively applied to one of the containers 206 by means of a cup-shaped, threaded Q a closure cap 216. The latter is threadedly received as at 218 over the open upper rim of the container and has formed in the central portion of the top wall a relatively large opening 220. Within this opening there is installed a supporting fitting 222 for a valve body 224. The support fitting 222 is maintained in its installed position in the opening 220 by way of an upper outwardly extending flange and a lower nut 226 between which the opening defining portion of the top wall of the closure cap 216 is clamped. An annular sealing gasket 228 surrounds the fitting and is designed for egagement with the open upper rim of the container 206 when the closure cap 216 is threaded onto the latte-r.

The support fitting 222 is provided therethrough with a vertical central bore 230, the lower end of the bore cornmunicating with a depending dip tube 232 which extends downwards to a region near the bottom wall of the container 206. The upper region of the bore 230 threadedly receives therein a vertically extending supporting nipple 234 having a centrally disposed radial flange 236 formed thereon. An O-ring 238 is compressed between the flange 236 and the fitting 222, and serves to seal the upper end of the bore 230 against egress of hair spray liquid from the container 206. The upper region of the bore 230 threadedly receive therein a vertically extending supporting nipple 234 having a centrally disposed radial flange 236 formed thereon. An O-ring 238 is compressed between the flange 236 and the fitting 222, and serves to seal the upper end of the bore 230 against egress of hair spray liquid from the container 206.

The valve body 224 is threadedly received as at 240 on.

the upper end of the supporting nipple 234, and is in the form of a generally rectangular, block-like structure having formed therein a vertical liquid passage 242 which communicates with a longitudinal bore 244 in the nipple 234. The upper end of the passage 242 communicates with the atmoshpere through a small diameter bore 246 in a laterally extending nozzle 248 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) which is threadedly received in the upper portion of the.valve body 224. The nozzle 248 is formed with an enlarged tripartite head portion 250 which is sealed to the valve body by an O-ring 252.

Surrounding the nozzle 248 and the tripartite head portion 250 thereof is a cup-shaped, generally semi-cylindrical shell 254 having a small atomizing outlet hole 256 which is formed in the central portion thereof and into which the extreme forward end of the nozzle 248 projects. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer or forward end of the nozzle terminates adjacent to the hole 256. The shell 254 establishes a semi-spherical air chamber 258 around the nozzle 248 and a circular annulus 260 around the tripartite head 250. The rirn region of the shell fits within and is connected by a screw thread connection to an annular, laterally extending flange on the upper portion of the valve body 224.

The valve body 224 has formed therein a vertical air passage 262, the upper end of which is closed by means of a cup-shaped, threaded closure cap 264. The central portion of the passage 262 communicates through a horizontal passage 265 with the annulus 260 and the chamber 258. A vertically extending manipulating plunger 266 is slidable in an opening 268 in the top wall of the cap 264, and a disk 270 which is equipped with a peripheral O-ring 272, establishes a seal for the opening 268. A spiral compression spring 274 bears against a cage 276 at its lower end and against the disk 270 at its upper end and serves to urge the disk against the top wall of the closure cap 264.

The cage 276 is pressed in the lower end of the air passage 262 and has slidable therein a vertically extending valve stem 278 which carries a valve element 280 at its lower end. The valve element 280 is designed for cooperation with a seat 281 at the lower end of the cage and is maintained normally seated thereagainst by a spiral compression spring 282 which surrounds the valve stem 278 and bears at its lower end against the bottom wall of the cage and at its upper end against a radial flange 284 on the upper end of the valve stem 278. The lower end of the manipulating plunger 266 bears against the radial flange 284. The manipulating plunger 266 is adapted, upon depression thereof, to unseat the valve element 280.

The lower end of the air passage 262 communicates with a horizontal air inlet passage 286 and this latter passage communicates through a push-on type nipple 288 with the discharge end d the associated flexible branch conduit 214 (see FIGS. 1' and 7).

In the operation of the atomizing head 210, when it is desired to apply liquid hair spray to the hair of a customer, such as the customer C2, and assuming the proper container 206 has been selected by the operator O2 and applied to the atomizing head 210, the operator will depress the plunger 266, thus unseating the valve element 280. Air will then be admitted from the horizontal passage 286 through the valve cage 276 from whence it will pass upwardly through the passage 262 and flow through the horizontal passage 265 to the annulus 260 and the air chamber 258. It is to be noted at this point that the portion of the nozzle 248 that is forwards or outwards of the tripartite head portion 250 constitutes, in effect, a Venturi tube and that this tube projects into, but not through, the hole 256 in the central portion of the shell 254. Thus, when air under pressure is introduced into the chamber 258, a thin curtain of air is projected forwardly on a 360 radius completely surrounding the outlet end of the tube and establishes a pressure drop.

immediately forwardly of the tube where liquid hair spray is drawn by a Venturi action from the tube. The forward velocity of air in the low pressure area is thus maintained at-a minimum consistent with effective suction, while the atomized liquid which issues from the outlet hole 256 is at a maximum. By such an arrangement, no discomfort is afforded the customer by way of high velocity air streams in the vicinity of the face or neck and a low-noise level is maintained; As soon as the operator releases the plunger 266, the same is shifted upwards to its extended position under the influence of the spring 282 and the valve element 280 again becomes seated, thus shutting off the supply of air to the chamber 258.

Referring again to FIG. 1, and additionally to FIG. 2, the means for prcssurizing the various liquid shampoo containers 34 at the supply station SS and for supplying compressed air to the atomizing heads 210 in the zone Z2 comprises a combination motor-compressor unit MC which is operatively mounted on a compressed air tank 300 at the supply station SS. If desired, the equipment at the supply station may be concealed from view by a screen (not shown) or it may be disposed in a closet or other separate enclosure. The outlet of the compressor portion of the unit MC is connected to the tank 300 by a feed line 302.

The compressed air tank 300- is provided with a fouroutlet fitting 304 having three outlets 306 in communication with the three containers 34, and a fourth outlet 308 in communication with the manifold conduit 212. Check valves 310 are disposed in the outlets 306 to prevent liquid shampoo in the containers 34 from backing up and entering the tank 300 in the event that the containers are accidentally tipped over. The outlets 306 are connected by respective conduits 312 to inlet fittings 314 which are connected to the various containers 34 in the upper regions thereof. Each container is also provided with an outlet fittings 316 and a vertical dip tube 317. The upper ends of the dip tubes extend through the outlet fittings 316 and are connected respectively to the three manifold conduits 4'6. Filling necks 318 are provided on the top walls of the containers 34 and are adapted to be sealed by screw-actuated pressure seals 320. Ashutoff cock 322 is interposed in the discharge end of each conduit 312 and, when closed, discontinues the supply of air from the tank 300 to the associated container to the end that such container may be replenished with liquid shampoo. The dip tubes 317 are provided with strainers 326 at their lower ends to prevent solid impurities from passing through the manifold and branch conduits 46 and 48 to the dispensing heads 40. The manifold conduits 48 are provided with check valves 328 to prevent back flow of liquid shampoo from the dispensing heads 40 during refilling of the containers 34. A shut-off valve 330 is interposed in the manifold conduit 212 in order to permit discontinuance of the supply of air under pressure to the atomizing heads 210 when the system is not in use or it is necessary to repair the motor-driven compressor MC or the tank 300.

It is contemplated that a conventional control mechanism shall be provided for controlling the operation of the motor-driven compressor unit MC to maintain effective reserve pressure within the air tank 300, and that a pressure-reduction device shall be employed for delivering air at a lower and working pressure to the various containers 34 and to the manifold conduit 212. A pressure range from between a minimum of 20 p.s.i. and a maximum of 40 p.s.i. is suitable for the intern-a1 pressure maintained within the airtank 300, while a pressure of 15 p.s.i. delivered to the containers 34 and the manifold line 212 likewise is suitable. Such a control mechanism and pressure-reduction device are well-known and have not been illustrated in the drawings.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in, the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There fore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a series of operating stations disposed within a shampoo-applying zone, means establishing a supply station remote from said zone, a compressed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operatively connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, a prime mover operatively connected to the compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plurality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube within each container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through said zone, a plurality of portable shampoo-dispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations, and a branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in said zone.

2. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a series of operating stations disposed within a shampoo-applying zone, means establishing a supply station remote from said zone, a compressed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operative- 1y connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, a prime mover operatively connected to the compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plurality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube within each container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through said zone, a plurality of portable shampoodispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations, a branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in said zone, and a check valve in associated relation with each outlet and operative to prevent back flow of shampoo from the container to the tank.

3. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a series of operating stations disposed within a shampoo-applying zone, means establishing a supply station remote from said zone, a compressed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operatively connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, a prime mover operatively connected to the compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plurality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube within each container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through said zone, a plurality of portable shampoo-dispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations, a branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in said zone, a check valve in associated relation With each outlet and operative to prevent back fiow of shampoo from the container to the tank, and a shut-off valve interposed in each conduit between its associated container and check valve.

4. A system as specified in claim 1 and including, additionally, check valves disposed in the manifold conduits and arranged to prevent back fiow of liquid shampoo from the dispensing heads to the containers in connection with refilling of such containers.

5. A system as specified in claim 3 and including, additionally, check valves disposed in the manifold conduits and arranged to prevent back flow of liquid shampoo from the dispensing heads to the containers in connection with refilling of such containers.

6. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a first series of operating stations disposed within a shampoo-applying zone, and compressed air to a second series of operating stations disposed within a hairsetting zone for purposes of hair spray atomization, means establishing a supply station remote from the tWo zones, a compressed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operatively connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, a motor operatively connected to said compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically-sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plurality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube within each' container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through the shampooapplying zone, a plurality of portable shampoo-dispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations of the first series, a flexible branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in the shampoo-applying zone, said fitting having an additional outlet, a manifold conduit connected to said additional outlet and extending through said hairsetting zone, an atomizing head at each of the operating stations of the second series, and a flexible branch conduit connecting each of said atomizing heads to the manifold conduit in the hair-setting zone.

7. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a first series of operating stations disposed within a shampoo-applying zone, and compressed air to a second series of operating stations disposed within a hair-setting zone for purposes of hair spray atomization, means establishing a supply station remote from zones, a compressed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operatively connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, a motor operatively connected to said compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically-sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plurality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube Within each container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through the shampoo-applying zone, a plurality of portable shampoo-dispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations of the first series, a flexible branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in the shampoo-applying zone, said fitting having an additional outlet, a manifold conduit connected to said additional outlet and extending through said hairsetting zone, an atomizing head at each of the operating stations of the second series, a flexible branch conduit connecting each of said atomizing heads to the manifold conduit in the hair-setting zone, and a check valve positioned in associated relation With each of the first men tioned outlets and operative to prevent back flow of shampoo from the containers to the tank.

8. A system as specified in claim 7 and including, additionally, a shut-off valve interposed in each conduit between its associated container and check valve.

9. A system as specified in claim 7 and including, additionally, check valves disposed in the manifold conduits and arranged to prevent back fiow of liquid shampoo from the dispensing heads to the containers in connection with refilling of such containers.

10. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a first series of operating stations disposed within a shampoo-applying zone, and compressed air to a second series of operating stations disposed Within a hairse-tting zone for purposes of hair spray atomization, means establishing a supply station remote from zones, a compresed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operatively connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, a motor operatively connected to said compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically-sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plurality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube Within each container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through the shampoo-applying zone, a plurality of portable shampoo-dispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations of the first series, a flexible branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in the shampoo-applying zone, said fitting having an additional outlet, a manifold conduit connected to said additional outlet and extending through said hair-setting zone, an atomizing head at each of the operating stations of the second series, a flexible branch conduit connecting each of said atomizing heads to the manifold conduit in the hair-setting zone, a check valve positioned in associated relation with each of the first mentioned outlets and operative to prevent back flow of shampoo from the container to the tank, and a shut-off cock disposed in each conduit between the associated container and check valve.

11. In a beauty parlor distribution system for supplying a-plurality of different kinds of liquid shampoo to each of a first series of operating stations disposed Within a shampoo-applying zone, and compress-ed air to a second series of operating stations disposed within a hairsetting zone for purposes of hair spray atomization, means establishing a supply station remote from zones, a com pressed air tank at said supply station, a compressor having its outlet side operatively connected to the tank for delivering air under pressure to the latter, an electric motor operatively connected to said compressor in driving relationship, a plurality of hermetically-sealed containers at said supply station, one for each kind of liquid shampoo, said tank being provided with an outlet fitting having a plunality of outlets, one for each container, a conduit connecting each outlet to one of said containers, a dip tube within each container, a manifold conduit connected to each dip tube and extending through the shampoo-applying zone, a plurality of portable shampoodispensing heads, one for each container, at each of the operating stations of the. first series, a flexible branch conduit connecting each manifold conduit to one of said dispensing heads at each operating station in the shampoo-applying zone, said fitting having an additional outlet, a manifoldconduit connected to said additional outlet and extending through said hair-setting zone, an atomizing head at each of the operating stations of the second series, a branch conduit connecting each of said at-omizing heads to the manifold conduit in the hairsetting zone, a check valve disposed in each of the manifold conduit-s which extends through the shampoo-applying zone and positioned between the associated dip tube and the next adjacent branch conduit, and a shut-01f cock disposed in the manifold conduit which extends through the hair-setting zone and positioned between said addi- .tional outlet and the next adjacent branch conduit.

No references cited.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BEAUTY PARLOR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIQUID SHAMPOO TO EACH OF A SERIES OF OPERATING STATIONS DISPOSED WITHIN A SHAMPOO-APPLYING ZONE, MEANS ESTABLISHING A SUPPLY STATION REMOTE FROM SAID ZONE, A COMPRESSOR HAVING ITS OUTLET SIDE SAID SUPPLY STATION, A COMPRESSOR HAVING ITS OUTLET SIDE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE TANK FOR DELIVERING AIR UNDER PRESSURE TO THE LATTER, A PRIME MOVER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE COMPRESSOR IN DRIVING RELATIONSHIP, A PLURALITY OF HERMETICALLY SEALED CONTAINERS AT SAID SUPPLY STATION, ONE FOR EACH KIND OF LIQUID SHAMPOO, SAID TANK BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET FITTING HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTLETS, ONE FOR EACH CONTAINER, A CONDUIT CONNECTING EACH OUTLET TO ONE OF SAID CONTAINERS, A DIP TUBE WITHIN EACH CONTAINER, A MANIFOLD CONDUIT CONNECTED TO EACH DIP TUBE AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ZONE, A PLURALITY OF PROTABLE SHAMPOO-DISPENSING HEADS, ONE FOR EACH CONTAINER, AT EACH OF THE OPERATING STATIONS, AND A BRANCH CONDUIT CONNECTING EACH MANIFOLD CONDUIT TO ONE OF SAID DISPENSING HEADS AT EACH OPERATING STATION IN SAID ZONE. 